Every church kitchen is different – take a look at our inspiration gallery to see how versatile semi-commercial kitchens can be, from small spaces and bold colour schemes, to listed buildings and cool neutrals.
Planning a new kitchen, but not sure where to start? We’ve rounded up some of our favourite church kitchen projects to bring you inspiration for your project. Take a look at the case studies below to start thinking creatively about how your new kitchen might look, feel and function.
A COLOURFUL UPDATE FOR A 25-YEAR-OLD KITCHEN
The committee at St Nicholas in Thames Ditton didn’t want a fully commercial kitchen, but they did want a step up from an MDF-based domestic model. What the Church needed was something in between, that could be hired out for events but wouldn’t feel intimidating to regular church groups or charity bake sales. They opted for a steel carcass with powder-coated steel doors in Mint, with raspberry pink walls. The kitchen occupied the same space as the previous kitchen, with features like a wall-mounted water boiler (for quick tea and coffee making) and a commercial dishwasher creating a more functional space.
COOL BLUES AND NEUTRALS FOR A LARGE-SCALE CATERING SPACE
St Mary’s wanted a kitchen that could serve the community. A huge space – the size of almost three double garages – it needed to be both visually appealing and also fitted out to a professional standard. They wanted a kitchen where volunteers would feel comfortable, but that professional caterers – hired for weddings and other events taking place in the hall – would also be happy to work in. Thanks to a skylight that floods the space with natural light, they decided to keep colour simple in the kitchen, with blue/grey flooring, monochrome worktops, white walls and a white steel door.
A STYLISH WOOD-PANELLED ‘POD’ FOR A LISTED CHURCH IN BRADFORD ON AVON
As a Grade I listed building, Holy Trinity Church needed a creative solution to a house modern, functioning kitchen. As an alternative to building an extension, they opted for a “pod” unit within the main body of the church. Due to the construction of the unit, it wasn’t possible to install an oven: instead, they chose a plug-in hob, microwave and warming cupboard, as well as plenty of storage, a wet area and a wall mounted instant water boiler. The team chose unobtrusive cream powder-coated doors to complement the historic beauty of the building.
FROM A TINY GALLEY KITCHEN TO AN OPEN-PLAN COMMUNAL SPACE
The Salvation Army in Harpenden wanted to avoid imposing and industrial finishes in their kitchen, so chose a powder-coated semi commercial kitchen to create a warm, welcoming space. The team decided to completely remodel the kitchen, transforming a tiny galley kitchen and adjoining room into one open-plan space: a friendly and functional area that could be used by volunteers, visitors and the local community. They opted for clean white doors with vibrant pale blue coloured walls.
BOLD RED AND WHITE FOR A HISTORIC CHURCH KITCHEN
The kitchen at Dursley Tabernacle United Reform Church was is desperate need of renovation when the team contacted Steelplan Kitchens. The existing kitchen in the Grade II listed building was a DIY-project undertaken by a minister in the 1950s: unsurprisingly, it didn’t meet current health and safety standards. With a new semi-commercial kitchen in bold red and white, the church could deliver a wide range of events, from weddings to community cooking clubs. Accessibility was important for the church’s community, so the island in the centre of the kitchen was set at a slightly lower level to counter tops, enabling wheelchair users to use the space.
YOUR NEW KITCHEN
When planning a church kitchen, it’s important explore your options and get input from all the right people. Consider appointing a kitchen-committee to oversee the ideas process: they can plan visits to other churches for inspiration and gather ideas from your congregation (download our handy questionnaire to help get the conversation started). Whether you’re ready to get started or in need of advice, our church kitchen experts are on hand to help: contact us on 0844 809 9186.
